St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  German based drug company Bayer is making an offer to buy Monsanto.

Leverkusen-based Bayer said in a short statement Thursday that its executives had met recently with their Monsanto counterparts “to privately discuss a negotiated acquisition of Monsanto Company.”

Bayer, whose farm business produces seeds as well as compounds to kill weeds, bugs and fungus, says the proposed acquisition would help it “create a leading integrated agriculture business.”

Officials with the Creve-Couer based company say Bayer’s proposal is being reviewed.

The possible deal had been rumored for a week but it was the first comment from either company.
Monsanto has some 20,000 employees; Bayer 117,000 worldwide.